If you often feel like you need to vent but aren’t sure how, then you may need an “anger buddy.”
According to psychologists, having a friend to have fun with can be beneficial for our emotional health and potentially lead to a better life.
Instead of staying calm and collected, some experts have revealed that the healthier option might actually be to rage about the matter to a trusted confidant.
Whether it’s an annoying colleague or a mother-in-law, there are plenty of people and circumstances that can get on our nerves.
Having an equally angry friend may be the best way to release some of that pent-up frustration by acknowledging and validating those big emotions, which may seem mundane to some outsiders, experts say.
Dr Sham Singh, a psychiatrist who takes a holistic approach to mental health, said: ‘Having someone to rant to when you’re angry will be very helpful.
If you often feel like you need to vent but aren’t sure how, then you may need an “anger buddy” (stock image)
‘It provides a sounding board for your emotions without being judged, and this would help give clarity on how you feel.
‘In these circumstances, the feeling of anger is proportionally diminished if you meet someone who can understand and empathize with your feelings.’
He added: “This way out helps to avoid the frustration and resentment that will surely arise later and will become more destructive with time.”
‘Sharing your anger with a trusted friend can give you insight into a problem and sometimes new perspectives or solutions.’
TO study Last year I even discovered that anger can make us achieve more by inspiring us to try harder.
According to registered MBACP counselor Georgina Sturmer, anger can be a very useful emotion for processing “natural human emotions.”
“It’s amazing how much we’re led to believe that anger is somehow ‘bad’ when, in fact, it’s a natural human emotion,” he said.
‘We are often led to believe that anger is a bad thing and should be repressed or ignored. But in reality, anger is simply part of the human experience.
‘It is a signal, an emotion like any other, that tells us how we feel in response to something that has happened to us.’
‘It’s helpful to find an outlet for our anger, so we can understand and explore it, rather than letting it fester.
‘These outlets or coping strategies vary greatly from person to person. And for some of us, it involves venting our anger on an ‘anger buddy.’
‘The idea of an “anger buddy” suggests someone who is willing to listen to us when we feel angry. Who makes us feel as if our feelings are rational and valid.’
According to registered counselor Georgina Sturmer, anger can be a very useful emotion for processing “natural human emotions” (file photo)
Dr Tom MacLaren, consultant psychiatrist at Cognition Health, agreed that having an “anger buddy” can be important for “healthy emotional processing” and can result in a better life overall.
Having an “anger buddy”—someone who is willing to listen to you and share your angry moments—can be a surprisingly powerful tool for maintaining emotional well-being.
‘This type of emotional release is crucial because repressing anger can lead to a buildup of stress, anxiety and even physical health problems, such as headaches or high blood pressure.
‘When you vent to a trusted friend, you’re not just expressing anger; you’re processing it.’
She agreed that it is a powerful tool for making important life changes that can lead you to protect and stand up for yourself and the things you believe in.
In short, having an “anger buddy” allows for healthy emotional processing, and understanding how to effectively manage anger can turn this powerful emotion into a catalyst for positive change in your life,” she said.
However, Georgina advises taking precautions to ensure that a venting session doesn’t make us feel worse.
‘There are subtleties in this type of relationship that can be the difference between a healthy outlet and something that makes us feel worse.
She said it’s important for “rabid” friends to remain a source of support and encouragement, rather than an outlet for catastrophic, spiraling thoughts. In these cases, she suggests considering why this happens.
‘Maybe we need to set some boundaries to make sure we express ourselves without amplifying our difficult feelings. It’s also important to remember that this relationship is two-sided.
“If a friend is always there for us when we need to express our anger, then it’s worth making sure we play a similar role too. And if we’re only tempted to pick up the phone when we’re angry, what does that say about our friendship?
“Is it possible that we are avoiding more joyful and festive conversations? If that is the case, then it could mean that we feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about this.
“Maybe we worry that we don’t seem interesting enough or that our positivity won’t be reciprocated in kind.”
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